April 2024 - Comp-neuro - lists.cnsorg.org

Python Package: SER model
by Fabrizio Damicelli 08 Aug '24

08 Aug '24

Dear Computational Neuroscience Community, I would like to point you to a potentially useful Python Package that might be of interest for your research, especially in the realm dynamical models and spreading dynamics on networks. "ser": S(usceptible)E(xcited)R(efractory) model on graphs, a dynamical model of spreading excitations. Code Repository: https://github.com/fabridamicelli/ser As of today, a few people already trust it and the package registers >11K total downloads, ~500/month (pypi.org) and has been used already in a few research projects. A few interesting features: - It is light-weight and fast (`numba` accelerated), i.e. many experiments can be simply run on a laptop - Installation and getting started is easy: `pip install ser` - Example notebooks: https://github.com/fabridamicelli/ser/blob/main/examples The SER model is a classical cellular automaton model used to study all sorts of complex systems, ranging from forest fire dynamics to self-organized criticality in the brain. Despite of the simplicity of its setup, it is capable of generating complex emergent dynamics with absolutely non-trivial higher-order statistical properties. To learn more about the SER model and its applications, you might want to check out these references: - Messe et al. (2018). Toward a theory of coactivation patterns in excitable neural networks. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006084 - Haimovici et al. (2013). Brain Organization into Resting State Networks Emerges at Criticality on a Model of the Human Connectome. doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.178101 - Damicelli et al. (2019). Topological reinforcement as a principle of modularity emergence in brain networks. doi.org/10.1162/netn_a_00085 Check it out and any feedback/suggestions/bug reports are more than welcome (simply open an issue: https://github.com/fabridamicelli/ser/issues) All the best, Fabrizio Damicelli

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Save the date: UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield
by Mark Humphries 13 Jun '24

13 Jun '24

Save the date! The UK Neural Computation meeting is in Sheffield for 2024, the gathering of the UK’s computational and systems neuroscience community 8 July: ECR day 9-10 July: main meeting 11 invited speakers, 4 talks from abstracts and loads of posters Abstract submission and registration opening soon Please spread the word! More details: https://neuralcomputation.uk/ Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

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Late-breaking poster abstract submission for the 32nd Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting ends on June 15
by Rubchinsky, Leonid L 30 May '24

30 May '24

Dear Colleagues, We would like to remind that the late-breaking poster abstracts submission at CNS*2023 ends on June 15. CNS*2023, 32nd Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting, will be in Leipzig, Germany, on July 15-19, 2023. The information about the meeting and abstract submission can be found here: Registration: https://ocns.memberclicks.net/cns-2023-registration Abstract submission: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2023-abstract-submission CNS*2023 information: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2023 With kind regards, Leonid Rubchinsky OCNS Vice President *********************** Leonid Rubchinsky, PhD Professor Department of Mathematical Sciences, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine 402 N. Blackford St Indianapolis, IN 46202-3216 lrubchin(a)iupui.edu http://www.math.iupui.edu/~lrubchin ***********************

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Postdoctoral position in computational neuroscience of reward learning at NIMH
by Langdon, Angela (NIH/NIMH) [E] 30 Apr '24

30 Apr '24

The Unit on the Neural Computations in Learning at the National Institute of Mental Health/NIH, led by Dr Angela Langdon, is looking for a creative and enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow to join the lab! Research in the lab is focused on the computational neuroscience of reward prediction and learning. Broadly, we study how timing, inference processes and goal selection modulate learning in reward-guided tasks in animals and humans, and how these processes are instantiated in neural activity across the reward learning circuits of the brain. We have a particular interest in how reward learning is altered in compulsive behaviors and in addiction. We are looking for a postdoc who is interested in developing approaches from reinforcement learning, dynamical systems theory and Bayesian inference to understand the online regulation of reward prediction and learning in neural activity and behavior. We have a broad network of collaborating labs that span rodent, NHP and human studies, and the ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a highly interdisciplinary environment to pursue novel and translational insights into the neural basis of reward learning. This opening is an excellent opportunity for a computational neuroscientist who wishes to apply theoretical ideas to understand empirical data, with the opportunity to collaborate on novel paradigms to test computational models of reward learning in the brain. Interested candidates should have strong quantitative and programming skills, a background in neuroscience, psychology or cognitive science and a record of scientific contributions in an area relevant to research in the lab. Applicants should send a brief research statement, cv and the names of two academic references to Dr Angela Langdon (angela dot langdon at nih dot gov). Informal enquiries are welcome!

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GRE requirements and grad school applicant numbers
by Brascamp, Jan 29 Apr '24

29 Apr '24

Dear collegues at United States graduate programs, To inform our graduate program’s application policy in future years, we are trying to understand the relation between whether a graduate program requires applicants to submit GRE results, and the number of applications received. We put together a short Qualtrics survey to learn what our colleagues’ experience at other graduate programs has been in this context. If you are at a US graduate program and could save a few minutes, we would be grateful if you could fill out the survey. https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7P3H69NQgtoMCXA <https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7P3H69NQgtoMCXA> Thank you, Jan Brascamp

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World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, May 1st 2024 at 11am (EDT), Lorenzo Fontolan, Université Aix-Marseille| "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour"
by David Hansel 28 Apr '24

28 Apr '24

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Lorenzo Fontolan Université Aix-Marseille on the topic of "Neural mechanisms of memory-guided behaviour*"* The lecture will be held on zoom on *May 1st, 2024*, at *11:00 am EDT * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: *Persistent, stimulus-dependent neuronal activity has been observed in numerous brain areas during tasks that require the temporary maintenance of information. Several competing hypotheses for the neuronal mechanisms underlying persistent activity have been proposed. We have employed data-driven models in conjunction with optogenetic disruptions of neural circuits within memory-guided motor tasks. Our findings revealed a mechanism governed by dynamic attractors, pivotal in sustaining neuronal activity. This mechanism, shaped by time-varying inputs reflecting temporal predictions, is instrumental in regulating the impact of sensory information on the premotor cortex, thereby preserving memory traces from distracting stimuli. We then asked how persistent activity driven by attractor dynamics emerges during motor learning. It has been proposed that activity-dependent synaptic plasticity underpins motor learning, as it can reconfigure network architectures to produce the appropriate neural dynamics for specific behaviors. To verify this hypothesis, we investigated how the mouse premotor cortex acquires specific neural dynamics that govern the planning of movement at different stages of motor learning. We developed network models that replicated the effects of acute manipulations of synaptic plasticity. The models, which display attractor dynamics, also explain flexible behavior after learning has ended. By leveraging the model's predictions, we can formulate testable hypotheses regarding the distinct mechanisms governing movement planning at various stages of the learning process. *About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ ᐧ -- "В каждой шутке есть доля шутки" 'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022) --------------------------------------- David Hansel Directeur de Recherche au CNRS Co-Group leader Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS 45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06 Tel (Cell): +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62 ᐧ

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[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash)
by NeuroDesign in HRI 28 Apr '24

28 Apr '24

[Meetings] [CFP] (3nd Call) Call for Submission: NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024 (USD $1800 in cash) —------------------------------------------------------------ =============================== Call for Submission =============================== NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Student Showcase Competition ($1800 USD for your participation) 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2024) Yokohama, Japan May 17, 2024 https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/ Dear Colleagues, Are you working on a human-interactive robot project that already has prototypes or some initial research findings? Perhaps you're pondering how to evolve these into more human-centric, real-world applications with a seamless, intuitive "brain"-centered experience, aiming to connect robots more deeply with our bodies, minds, and souls. Worry not! We're excited to announce the NeuroDesign EXPO in HRI Showcase Competition at ICRA 2024, in conjunction with the NeuroDesign in HRI workshop (https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/) This event will feature a panel of world-renowned experts from diverse fields such as Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognitive Neuroscience, Social and Behavioral Psychology, Art & Design, RoboEthics, and the Startup community. These professionals will offer live, integrated-perspective feedback and recommendations to help refine your projects into more impactful research and commercial products. We invite students at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels to submit your projects. Submissions can fall into, but are not limited to, the following categories: - Affective Computing - Social and Service Robot - Industrial Collaborative Robot - Wearable Robot/ Device - Brain-Machine/Computer Interface - Haptics and Tele-operation - Soft Robotics - VR/AR & Metaverse - Cyborg and Bionic System - Healthcare Robotics - Exoskeleton and Rehabilitation Robot - LLM and Foundation Model for Human Robot Interaction - Brain Dynamics and Psychology for Cognitive and Physical HRI (cHRI/pHRI) - Human-Drone/AutoVehicle Interaction - Assistive Technology - Intelligence Augmentation and Human 2.0 Technologies - Supernumerary Limbs - Biometric Information Processing - Pervasive-Ubiquitous/Spatial Computing - Smart Home/Internet of Things (IoTs) - Edge-Fog-Cloud Computing - Speech/Gesture Recognition or Image/Audio Processing - Big Data, AI & Machine Learning for Multimodal Interaction - Smart Tutoring/Chatbot System - RoboEthics - RoboFashion, Clothing and Robot Skin - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for HRI Technologies Participation Procedure: Our selection process is on a rolling basis, and we aim to choose 10 projects for the final on-stage pitch presentation. We especially encourage those who have already submitted their work as posters or papers to ICRA 2024 or have publications elsewhere to participate in our event. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity to increase the visibility of your research globally. Submission Options: Submissions can be made in one of three formats: 1. A concise 100-word abstract and a 1-2 minute video, offering a brief yet engaging overview. 2. A 100-word abstract accompanied by 5 detailed slides for a short but thorough presentation. 3. A 2-page extended abstract (Please follow IEEE ICRA format: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/support/word.php) for a more in-depth submission. *4. Participants are also welcome to submit using any combination of the above formats. Final Round and Presentation: The selected 10 projects will each have a 5-minute pitch presentation on stage during the final round. If the final project team is unable to attend in person in Japan, we will provide a Zoom link for virtual presentation. Alternatively, you may submit a polished, pre-recorded 5-minute video presentation, which we will play on stage. Exhibition and Virtual Participation: All submitted projects will receive a dedicated booth for poster and prototype demonstrations. For participants unable to travel to Japan, we will print your posters and display them on the bulletin boards at our venue. The event is designed to be "Hybrid" to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to travel to Japan. A Zoom link will be provided for your virtual participation. Awards: We are thrilled to present two distinguished award categories at the competition. The "Best Innovation in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be awarded to 3 outstanding projects, as recognized by our panel of speakers and committee members. The *First Prize* will be awarded for USD 1000 USD and the* 2nd Prize* will be awarded 800 hundred for the prototyping. These projects will exemplify groundbreaking innovation within Human-Robot Interaction NeuroDesign. Additionally, the "Most Popular Project in HRI NeuroDesign Award" will be given to 2 projects, for which the First Prize will be awarded for “Full Waiver” for the submission to Journal of Frontiers in Robotics and AI in that capture the hearts of our workshop attendees and audience, determined through a popular vote. Winners in both categories will receive certificates acknowledging their achievements. Timeline: - Submission Deadline: Your entries must be submitted by *May 1, 2024*. Please note that our selection process is rolling, so early submissions are encouraged. - Announcement of Final Project Teams: The teams selected for the final round will be announced on May 3, 2024. - Competition Date: The competition will take place on May 17, 2024, where finalists will present their projects to the panel and attendees. Submission Website: https://forms.gle/fQMxJtkXb8JEU2WR6 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're looking forward to seeing you at ICRA 2024! Best regards, Organizing Committee 2nd Workshop on NeuroDesign in Human-Robot Interaction: The making of engaging HRI technology your brain can’t resist https://neurodesign-in-hri.webflow.io/

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Videos posted for AE Spring Summit on Fundamental Challenges for AI (Algorithm Developement)
by Battleday, Ruairidh 28 Apr '24

28 Apr '24

------------------------------ Last week we held a Summit on the Fundamental Technical Challenges <http://www.algopreneurship.org/program> for ML/AI Development at the Computer History Museum in Palo Alto (April 15th). The videos are now available free-of-charge at the below link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA59nMLAkDyjuCkh7_6E5QSYv8ZNzXipf&si=mZo… *Keynotes* Professor Jay McClelland (Stanford / DeepMind) Professor Bin Yu (UC Berkeley) Professor Diyi Yang (Stanford) Professor Sergey Levine (UC Berkeley) *Panels* New Landscapes for AI Research New Professional Pathways Challenges for AI in Biomedicine Fundamental Challenges We hope you enjoy! The Thinking About Thinking Team <http://www.thinkingaboutthinking.org> -- Dr Ruairidh McLennan Battleday BMBCh (Oxon) PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT

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Postdoc position available at UChicago
by Jorge Jaramillo 26 Apr '24

26 Apr '24

Dear Comp-Neuro community, https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/postdoctoral-fellow-computational-neurosc… We are looking for an outstanding applicant to develop large-scale circuit models for decision making within a collaborative consortium that includes the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, New York University, and the University of Chicago. This ambitious NIH-funded project requires the creativity and expertise to integrate multimodal data sets (e.g., connectivity, large-scale neural recordings, behavior) into a comprehensive modeling framework. The successful applicant will join Jorge Jaramillo’s Distributed Neural Dynamics and Control Lab at the Grossman Center at the University of Chicago. The Grossman Center Core Faculty | Neuroscience Institute<https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/grossman-center-core-faculty> Throughout the course of the postdoctoral training, there will be opportunities to visit the other sites in Seattle (Karel Svoboda) and New York (Adam Carter, Xiao-Jing Wang) for additional training and collaboration opportunities. Appointees will join as Grossman Center Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Chicago and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and additional opportunities for collaboration with exceptional experimental labs within the Department of Neurobiology, as well as other labs from the departments of Physics, Computer Sciences, and Statistics. The Grossman Center offers competitive postdoctoral salaries in the vibrant and international city of Chicago, and a rich intellectual environment that includes the Argonne National Laboratory and the Data Science Institute. Postdoctoral fellows will also have the possibility to work in additional projects with other Grossman Center faculty members. Application: Please send your application before May 1st 2024 as a single PDF file including: i) a CV with publications highlighted; ii) a motivation letter specifying how you can contribute to large-scale circuit modeling and data analysis based on current and previous work; iii) the contact details of two academic references to jorgejaramillo(a)uchicago.edu<mailto:jorgejaramillo@uchicago.edu>. A doctoral degree and sufficient computational background is required; informal enquiries are welcome. Starting date: The position is available immediately, starting date can be defined via mutual agreement. The University of Chicago is committed to sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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SAB 2024 Paper Submission Deadline Extended to May 15th
by Jeffrey L Krichmar 26 Apr '24

26 Apr '24

Dear Colleagues, Due to many requests, the submission deadline for SAB 2024 has been extended to May 15th! Because of the tight schedule, THERE WILL BE NO MORE EXTENSIONS. From Animals to Animats: 17th International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2024) More information can be found at: https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/ CALL FOR PAPERS - SAB 2024 ------------------------------------------- The Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB) interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers in artificial intelligence, artificial life, computer science, cybernetics, ethology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, robotics, and many other fields, to further our understanding of the behaviors and underlying mechanisms that allow natural animals and artificial agents to adapt and survive in complex, dynamic and uncertain environments. Animats denote the connection between animals and synthetic agents. The conference focuses on models and experiments designed to help characterize and compare various organizational principles and architectures underlying adaptive behavior in real animals and in animats. SAB 2024 solicits contributions dealing with any aspect of adaptive behavior. We especially invite submissions from researchers who connect biology and natural behavior to synthetic agents. Conference papers are peer-reviewed and accepted papers will be published in “From Animals to Animats 17. SAB 2024.” Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Nature. Venue -------- CalIT2 Auditorium University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697 USA Important Dates ——————————— May 15, 2024: Deadline for paper submission May 15, 2024: Deadline for Workshop and tutorial proposals June30, 2024: Notice of acceptance July 15, 2024: Camera-ready papers September 9-12: Conference dates Jeff Krichmar Department of Cognitive Sciences 2328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 jkrichma(a)uci.edu http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~jkrichma https://sites.uci.edu/sab2024/

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